LeBron James "Wherever Life's Journey Takes Me, My Heart Will Always Be In Akron"

• gibby08

  

  Alot of sports shows are talking about that quote he made during the MVP Press Conference in Akron on Sunday.
• devil1197

  gibby08 wrote: Alot of sports shows are talking about that quote he made during the MVP Press Conference in Akron on Sunday.

  AKRON, Ohio -- It will officially go down as a Most Valuable Player award ceremony. But in truth, it was a love-in, a community gathering, a chance for Akron to salute its favorite son and for its favorite son to big up his hometown.
  
  Thousands of fans, scores of them wearing LeBron James jerseys, chanted "M-V-P! M-V-P!'' every chance they got. Hundreds of friends, family members and sponsors turned out to show their support for the world's greatest basketball player. And the superstar himself spoke of Akron as if it were some sort of utopia, declaring his commitment to the place nearly half a dozen times.
  
  "I love Akron to death,'' James said. "Since I was a little kid, I always said I was going to find a way to put this city on the map. And I'm going to continue to do that.''
  
  As James spoke after receiving his second straight MVP award Sunday at the University of Akron, you couldn't help but think to yourself: He ain't leaving.
  
  Of course, James didn't go that far. He kept his wiggle room as the greatest prize in the greatest free-agent class in NBA history by saying, "No matter what might be ahead for me, this will always be my home.''
  
  But everything else about the afternoon said he's staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After all, the overriding theme of the event was loyalty -- to his mom, to his family, to his high school teammates, to his city and to his team. Now in his seventh year with the Cavs, James even invited his teammates onto the stage, where they mugged and posed for pictures while sharing inside jokes.
  
  "I don't have any special insight into this,'' said Keith Dambrot, James' first high school coach and now the head coach at Akron. "But if I had to, I'd bet my house that he stays. Why else would you do things like this?''
  
  Things like open up your MVP presentation to the public, for free.
  
  Historically, these ceremonies have been small, fairly mundane affairs. Held in a hotel ballroom or maybe a team's practice facility, they typically involved the player, the media and some team employees. Kind of impersonal, kind of routine, they were never as majestic as they appeared on TV.
  
  
  [+] EnlargeNathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
  Second to none: It's back-to-back MVP trophies for King James.
  But LeBron has turned them into a celebration, a party.
  
  Last year, the students at James' alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, along with family and friends, jammed into the tiny gymnasium where James became famous, honoring him in a way reminiscent of a raucous school assembly.
  
  This year, he went one better, holding the event at much larger Rhodes Arena, where he played most of his home games as a high school junior and senior to accommodate the growing crowds and media.
  
  James, who will be honored officially as MVP by NBA commissioner David Stern before Monday's Game 2 against the Boston Celtics, had a simple answer for why he made it a community event:
  
  "Because I'm just a little kid from Akron.''
  
  If James' desire is indeed to stay with the Cavs (even he might not know for sure), the one thing that could throw a monkey wrench into his plan is a Cavaliers bust in these playoffs. He has always insisted that winning ultimately will determine his destination, so if he brings Cleveland its first major league sports title since 1964, one would think he would re-sign and seek to build a dynasty.
  
  But what if the Cavs, who lead Boston 1-0, bow out early, falling to the Celtics in the second round or to the Orlando Magic again in the conference finals? Would that increase his chances of leaving?
  
  Remember, in leaving Cleveland, James, who has said he wants to become a billionaire, would have to leave roughly $30 million on the table. Visions any fan has of a sign-and-trade to Dallas or wherever are more like delusions because the Cavs aren't likely to aid James in a departure.
  
  That leaves only the following teams with the salary-cap space to sign a player to a max contract: the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets, the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers. Of those, the Bulls are probably the Cavs' biggest threat, with their young nucleus of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
  
  New York? Forget the urban legend that Nike will pay James more money to play in the Big Apple. His signature is already on his new Nike deal, and several sources tell me there's no clause in it that states he'll get paid more for playing with the Knicks.
  
  The notion that James needs to relocate to a bigger market is also faulty. He's already the clear-cut face of the NBA, with plenty of endorsement contracts, even though he's playing in Cleveland and hasn't won a ring. In this global, Internet age, the size of the local market is virtually irrelevant. And if his social needs need satisfying, James can hop in a private jet and fly anywhere he wants to at a moment's notice, so why not stay in his hotel-sized crib on the outskirts of Akron?
  
  James, who wasn't wooed and recruited by colleges because everyone knew he was NBA-bound, probably will visit several teams come July. Big on drama, he might let the suspense build to a crescendo. But in the end, Cavs fans should let these words from James comfort them.
  
  "The city of Akron means so much to me,'' he said. "Akron, Ohio, is my life. I love this city.''
  
  Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who sat on stage with James, is convinced, or at the very least, feigning conviction, saying, "I'm sure we'll be here next year with MV3.''
  
  There was no reason Sunday to believe that won't be the case.

  http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=broussard_chris&page=LeBronMVP-100503
  
  Also, expect his speech tonight to be more geared towards Cleveland and the fans. Yesterday was for Akron, tonight is for Cleveland and the next 3 years will be played in Cleveland.
• Al Capone

  He's good as gone.
• se-alum

  

  Not that I ever thought he was leaving, but you just don't say stuff like this, and then bolt out of town. The Knicks & Bulls must've hated seeing that ceremony!
• Nate

  He'll be a Cavalier next year. You can take that to the bank.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  LMFAO.
  
  Perfect example of what I've been talking about for a long time. I'm bored with even addressing it. The thread starter doesn't surprise me, probably the dumbest Huddler we have.
  
  Just in the last 24 hours, gibby has claimed:
  
  1. LeBron is leaving Cleveland
  2. LeBron is overrated
  3. George Lopez is a top 5 stand up comic of all time
  4. Led Zeppelin only has one good song
  
  I can't believe how quickly this list of bullshit has grown.
• devil1197

  The one tonight will be just as sweet.
  
  He isn't going anywhere for 3 years+. Its going to be a great ride that hopefully starts with a title this season!
• royal_k

  

  Al Capone wrote: He's good as gone.

  dream on trollboy
• Sage

  

  Gibby's wrong on Zeppelin. They don't have any good songs.
  
  Also, he's repping Akron. No mention of Cleveland. Just take heed.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Sage wrote: Gibby's wrong on Zeppelin. They don't have any good songs.
  

  Well, I knew you were a dumbass a long time ago so I'm not surprised you agree with him.
• Sage

  

  White people can't make music bro. Scientifically proven.
• royal_k

  

  Sage wrote: Gibby's wrong on Zeppelin. They don't have any good songs.
  
  Also, he's repping Akron. No mention of Cleveland. Just take heed.

  Zeppelin don't have any good songs? LMFAO.....SMH
• devil1197

  Sage wrote: Gibby's wrong on Zeppelin. They don't have any good songs.
  
  Also, he's repping Akron. No mention of Cleveland. Just take heed.

  The celebration was in Akron.
  
  Tonight he gets crowned as the MVP by Stern before the Cleveland fans. That speech will be geared towards the Cleveland area, team and organization.
• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  From a 100% impartial party (I think Lebron staying would be a great for the NBA, even though I do pull for the Nets and wouldn't mind seeing him in Brooklyn): reading the quote "Wherever Life's Journey Takes Me, My Heart Will Always Be In Akron" makes me think he WILL leave the Cavs.
  
  Maybe I am not reading between the lines accurately, but it seems he is saying that he will always be an Akron boy, even if his journey takes him elsewhere. If he was staying, wouldn't he just say something like "my heart belongs to Akron" or "I am an Ohio guy, period." I don't know ...
• thedynasty1998

  

  I used to think that Lebron was going elsewhere, but recently have started thinking he will stay in Cleveland. However, I don't know how some of the Cavs fans can be so certain that he's staying. When he makes statements like this he is leaving open a door and he is smart enough to choose his words wisely.
  
  And the fact that he hasn't resigned and has left the organization in limbo makes it a scary situation as a Cavs fan.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  BigAppleBuckeye wrote: From a 100% impartial party (I think Lebron staying would be a great for the NBA, even though I do pull for the Nets and wouldn't mind seeing him in Brooklyn): reading the quote "Wherever Life's Journey Takes Me, My Heart Will Always Be In Akron" makes me think he WILL leave the Cavs.
  
  Maybe I am not reading between the lines accurately, but it seems he is saying that he will always be an Akron boy, even if his journey takes him elsewhere. If he was staying, wouldn't he just say something like "my heart belongs to Akron" or "I am an Ohio guy, period." I don't know ...

  No, what you're doing is what has happened since the FA talk started--taking things out of context and ignoring all the other parts of the speech.
• Sage

  

  
  
  yea these guys are musical fucking geniuses
  
  christ
  
  bunch of overrated bum looking fags
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Sage wrote: yea these guys are musical fucking geniuses

  You're right.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Sage wrote: White people can't make music bro. Scientifically proven.

  
• skank

  

  Sage wrote: White people can't make music bro. Scientifically proven.

  Dude are you black or just a wannabe? Serious question.
• thedynasty1998

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: No, what you're doing is what has happened since the FA talk started--taking things out of context and ignoring all the other parts of the speech.

  One could say the same thing to you, although rather than saying speech, saying actions.
  
  Again, I do think he will resign, but there is no reason to be completely certain.
• sleeper

  

  He'll remain a Cav, book it.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  thedynasty1998 wrote:

  SQ_Crazies wrote: No, what you're doing is what has happened since the FA talk started--taking things out of context and ignoring all the other parts of the speech.

  One could say the same thing to you, although rather than saying speech, saying actions.
  
  Again, I do think he will resign, but there is no reason to be completely certain.

  I don't make bullshit assumptions based on a fraction of what was actually said.
  
  I take in the entire thing, and form an opinion. The notion that he hasn't hinted at all is BS, he's hinted towards staying in Cleveland but he's certainly left the door open--it doesn't even matter what he says, the contracts are all that matter so he obviously has a door open he or he would have signed an extension already. But this is a business, and I would keep my doors open as well. But the hype around him leaving is the story--so it's been blown up for a few years now. This is just another example of taking something from nothing and running with it. A lot of people bite on it, not my fault they're too stupid to see the reality of the situation.
• devil1197

  LeBron is leaving the door somewhat open so the hype and buzz is still being created.
  
  He loves the anticipation, I firmly believe he knows he is re-signing with Cleveland but what fun is it to say it now.
• thedynasty1998

  

  devil1197 wrote: LeBron is leaving the door somewhat open so the hype and buzz is still being created.
  
  He loves the anticipation, I firmly believe he knows he is re-signing with Cleveland but what fun is it to say it now.

  That's what I don't get, Ariza looked at Cleveland last year and Lebron couldn't tell him for sure he would be around. Not only is he leaving the Cavs in limbo, but he's also hurting his own future in a way. To say he's leaving the door open for people to talk about him is stupid, when he basically got annoyed at the beginning of the year with the questions.
  
  And SQ is such a homer that he'll never see it from a different perspective. He thought Darnell Jackson could have put up similar numbers as Noah in the first round series, showing his bias.